Current Affairs MCQs – July 12-13

 With reference to the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), consider the following statements:

1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched to improve the accessibility and affordability of farm machinery, particularly for small and marginal farmers.
2. It is being implemented as a component of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
3. Under the scheme, State Agriculture Departments release financial assistance through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal.
4. Institutional bodies are eligible for 100% financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh for demonstrating drone technologies in precision agriculture.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2014-15 to promote farm mechanisation by making agricultural machinery accessible and affordable, particularly for small and marginal farmers. It also seeks to enhance farm productivity by addressing the problem of low mechanisation.

Statement 2 is correct

• SMAM is implemented as a component of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It aims to increase the availability of farm power and reduce the cost of cultivation through improved access to modern agricultural equipment.

Statement 3 is correct

• Under the scheme, State Agriculture Departments are the implementing agencies, and all eligible financial assistance is released directly to beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, ensuring transparency and timely delivery of subsidies.

Statement 4 is correct

• To promote precision agriculture, SMAM provides 100% financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh to eligible institutional bodies for the demonstration of drone technologies. The scheme also encourages the adoption of advanced technologies for efficient use of agricultural inputs and improved farm management.

Answer: (d) All four; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to urban flooding in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Model Building Bye Laws, 2016 mandate rainwater harvesting systems for all urban plots exceeding 100 sq. m.
2. The iFLOWS initiative provides nationwide river flood forecasts for all major river basins up to seven days in advance.
3. The Mission Amrit Sarovar has been launched exclusively for the restoration of urban lakes and wetlands to mitigate flooding in metropolitan cities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. None of the above

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Model Building Bye Laws, 2016 require the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in urban plots exceeding 100 square metres. The measure aims to reduce stormwater runoff, promote groundwater recharge, and enhance urban water security.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• iFLOWS (Integrated Flood Warning System) is not a nationwide river flood forecasting system. It is a city-specific urban flood forecasting and early warning system that uses hydrodynamic modelling to provide ward-level inundation forecasts up to 72 hours in advance for vulnerable metropolitan areas, such as Mumbai.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Mission Amrit Sarovar is not exclusively an urban flood mitigation programme. It aims to construct or rejuvenate at least 75 water bodies in every district, covering both rural and urban areas, primarily for water conservation, groundwater recharge, and rainwater harvesting, although it can also provide incidental flood mitigation benefits.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120), consider the following statements:

1. It is a precision-guided rocket that integrates an Inertial Navigation System (INS) with NavIC (IRNSS) for enhanced targeting accuracy.
2. It extends the strike range of the Pinaka system to about 120 km, which is more than three times the range of the original Pinaka Mark-I.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Both statements are correct

• DRDO conducted a successful flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.

• LRGR-120 is an indigenously developed, precision-guided rocket for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system, designed to replace Russian-origin BM-21 Grad systems.
• Range: Up to 120 km; more than three times the 37.5 km of the original Pinaka Mark I.
• Guidance System: It combines an Inertial Navigation System (INS) with India’s NavIC (IRNSS) satellite network for precision navigation.

• LRGR-120 can be fired from existing in-service Pinaka launchers, whose high mobility allows a salvo to be fired and the position to be relocated before enemy radar can retaliate.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the textile sector in India, consider the following statements:

1. The textile and apparel sector is India’s second-largest employer after agriculture.
2. India accounts for about 4% of the global textile and apparel export market.
3. The sector contributes nearly one-tenth of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The textile and apparel sector is India’s second-largest employer after agriculture, providing direct employment to over 45 million people. It plays a crucial role in generating livelihoods, particularly in labour-intensive segments such as spinning, weaving, garment manufacturing, and handicrafts.

Statement 2 is correct

• India is the 6th largest exporter of textiles and apparel in the world and accounts for around 4% of the global textile and apparel export market. The sector is a major contributor to India’s merchandise exports.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The textile and apparel sector contributes around 2% of India’s GDP, not nearly one-tenth (10%). However, it accounts for approximately 11% of manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA), making it one of the most significant manufacturing sectors in the country.

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Medium

 The Paizhen Fault, recently seen in the news in the context of the Medog Hydropower Project, is located in which one of the following regions?

1. Karakoram Range in Ladakh, India
2. Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan
3. Tien Shan Mountains of Central Asia
4. None of the above

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Chinese geologists revealed that the Medog Hydropower Station being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River in Tibet is directly above the Paizhen Fault.

• The Paizhen Fault is an active seismic zone in the eastern Himalayan region of south-eastern Tibet. It forms part of a fault network created by the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
• It has remained active since the Early Pleistocene epoch (~2.6 million years ago); ongoing activity is evidenced by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Tibet in 2017 near the northern end of the Paizhen Fault.

Answer: (d) None of the above; Difficulty Level: Easy

 With reference to the recent India–New Zealand agreements, consider the following statements:

1. New Zealand adopted Maritime Security as its priority pillar under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
2. A Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was established to strengthen intelligence sharing and counter terrorist financing.
3. The Kiwifruit Action Plan envisages establishing Centres of Excellence in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
4. New Zealand became a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during the visit.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• New Zealand adopted Maritime Security as its priority pillar under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), a seven-pillar framework launched by India to promote a safe, secure, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Its initial focus will be on addressing Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and enhancing maritime cooperation.

Statement 2 is correct

• India and New Zealand agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism to institutionalise cooperation on intelligence sharing, countering terrorist financing, dismantling terrorist safe havens, and addressing cross-border terrorism, thereby strengthening bilateral security cooperation.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Under the Agricultural Productivity Partnership, the Kiwifruit Action Plan envisages establishing two Centres of Excellence in Nagaland and Uttarakhand, not in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• During the visit, New Zealand joined the Global Biofuels Alliance and reaffirmed its commitment under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). It did not become a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during the visit.

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Hard

The “Minamata Convention”, frequently seen in the news, is primarily related to:

1. Conservation of wetlands of international importance
2. Elimination and reduction of mercury pollution
3. Regulation of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
4. Protection of the ozone layer

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Minamata Convention on Mercury (2013) is a legally binding global treaty under the UN Environment Programme that protects human health and the environment from anthropogenic mercury pollution.
• Adopted in 2013, it regulates the entire lifecycle of mercury, including its trade, use in products and industrial processes, and safe disposal.

Answer: (b) Elimination and reduction of mercury pollution; Difficulty Level: Easy

 Phu Quoc, recently seen in the news, is located in which one of the following water bodies?

1. South China Sea
2. Gulf of Thailand
3. Gulf of Tonkin
4. Andaman Sea

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Phu Quoc was in the news after a speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized near the island, resulting in the deaths of 15 Indian tourists. Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, situated in the Gulf of Thailand. It sits closer to Cambodia than to mainland Vietnam, and Cambodia maintains a historical territorial claim over it.

Answer: (b) Gulf of Thailand; Difficulty Level: Easy